This post originated from an RSS feed registered with Java Buzz by Michael Cote. Original Post: PeopleOverProcess.com: Looking to get a Windows Box/Server Feed Title: Cote's Weblog: Coding, Austin, etc. Feed URL: https://cote.io/feed/ Feed Description: Using Java to get to the ideal state. Latest Java Buzz Posts Latest Java Buzz Posts by Michael Cote Latest Posts From Cote's Weblog: Coding, Austin, etc.

Increasingly, I'm coming across software and apps I want to play around with (or "analyze" to use the professional word ;>) that require Windows. I, of course, work on a PowerBook. For example, BMC's Service Desk Express (the hosted version of Magic) and Spiceworks have required Windows.

I haven't bought a desktop PC in...gosh...I don't know how long. While I've purchased several laptops (Dells and and ThinkPad), those are relatively easy to shop for.

So, I thought I'd ask: what do you recommend? Ideally, I'd like a server like box so that I could run any of the enterprise software apps I might get my hands on. It'd be nice to get 64 bit and some dual-cores to see what's what in that area. And, of course, I'd like to run VMWare to get Windows, Linux, Solaris, and friends up and running. My budget, of course, is "as little as possible."

I might order up an Ultra to try for 60 days: maybe $895 isn't so bad a price...or is it? Like I said, I have no idea about Windows desktop pricing at the moment. Perhaps I'll end up with a Dell: that seems to be the preferred choice for the sweet spot between cheap and "works well enough."

Disclaimer: BMC and Sun are clients.

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